THE family of a British-Iranian mother-of-one, who was imprisoned on spying charges, have held a special celebration to commemorate the anniversary of her departure to Iran.

Last March, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and her infant daughter Gabriella went to Iran to celebrate the festival of Nowruz with her family living in Tehran.

However, when the charity worker and her daughter attempted to return home on April 3, their passports were confiscated and Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was later jailed on spying charges.

Cwmbran GP Rebecca Ratcliffe, Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s sister-in-law, organised a special Nowruz in Cardiff, which was attended by around 120 people.

“Nowruz is very important time to Nazanin, a time of coming together with friends and family and reflection, as the New Year is welcomed in,” said Dr Ratcliffe.

“It is the reason why Nazanin left us a year ago to go to Iran with Gabriella."

Earlier this year, the charity worker for Reuters Thompson, the charitable arm of the news agency, had the appeal to her five year sentence rejected by the Iranian Revolutionary Court.

A flashmob choir, including Bassaleg School’s choir, performed ‘Do You Hear The People Sing?’ from Les Miserables, and were conducted by Risca music teacher Mark Heron at the Nowruz.

"This Nowruz we come together as Nazanin, Richard and Gabriella cannot,” said Dr Ratcliffe.

“We celebrate as a family with spring hope for Nazanin and Gabriella, planting hyacinths as a symbol of the new year and the hope this offers,

“Never has it been more important for Nazanin to wash away the old year with all its injustices and cruelty and welcome in the new year, with its hope of freedom and reunions."

The GP was delighted with the show of support for her sister-in-law and niece and the planting of the 30 hyacinths.

“Naz was living in Hampstead in London and although she’s met some of my close friends, there are a large number of people who have been supporting us locally who have never met her,” she said.

“That in itself is amazing that there are so many kind-hearted people coming out and supporting us.”

Parts of letter written by Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe to her husband were read out by the crowd, and the GP added that knowledge of the event made its way back to Iran.

“We read out quotes from letters written by Nazanin, that she had written to her husband about her hopes and dreams, and the future and reflecting on what had happened,” said the GP.

“The people in Iran heard about our Nowruz celebration in advance.

“They are very proud of their Persian culture and Nowruz is very symbolic of that – the celebration itself predates the birth of Islam and Christianity.

“It’s a secular festival and it is held closely to the heart of the Iranian population.

“The fact that we were celebrating that in Wales really gave hope to everyone, and the Iranians who have been following the case, and other people, who are in prison with her.”